Organization of Asia-Pacific News Agencies turns 55

Baku, December 22, AZERTAC OANA member-agencies account for two-thirds of the world's news flow. The Organization of Asia-Pacific News Agencies (OANA) was founded on December 22, 1961, with the aim to promote information exchange between regional news agencies. OANA is the largest media organization for its geography and the volume of the news produced by its members. Forty-four member agencies from 35 countries provide two-thirds of the total volume of news produced throughout the world. Every day, member-agencies post around 200 news stories, photo and video material on the OANA website. AZERTAC joined OANA in 2004. Three years later, it was elected to its supreme body, the Executive Board, holding this position for three consecutive terms. It hosted the OANA's Executive Board meeting in Baku in September, 2008. At the 15th General Assembly of OANA held in 2013, Director General of AZERTAC, Aslan Aslanov, was elected one of the vice-presidents of the organization. By secret ballot, AZERTAC was also elected the president of OANA for 2016-2019 with the following General Assembly to be held in Baku. Organized by the Heydar Aliyev Foundation and AZERTAC, a joint opening ceremony of the 5th News Agencies World Congress and the 16th General Assembly of the Organization of Asia-Pacific News Agencies was held in Baku on November 16, 2016. President Ilham Aliyev attended the opening ceremony and addressed the participants. The 16th OANA General Assembly was held on November 18, bringing together more than 80 delegates from 40 news agencies. The OANA member agencies elected new members of the Executive Board, and set the venue and date of the next General Assembly. Mr. Aslan Aslanov, the Director General of ACERTAC, assumed presidency of OANA for the next three-years term, during which the agency will be responsible for managing the website of the organization and other organizational issues. AZERTAC is one of the most active members of OANA as the agency's contribution to the organization's website accounts up to 4,000 news stories, more than 700 video and over 1,600 photo items yearly. This covers all spheres of Azerbaijan's public and political life, including official events, economy, culture, science, education, sport, tourism, environment, etc. This makes AZERTAC the third largest contributor among 44 member-agencies.